Clutch mechanism for sewing-machines.



APPLICATION FILED APR.11, 1912.

Patented Oct. '7, 1918.

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2 CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. r APPLICATION FILED APR.11,1912. 1 074 650. Patented Oct. 7,1913. ii 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

(5 0 56/"? @2126 /2/5/1 qw i/twzooeo R. A. SORANTON. CLUTCH MECHANISMFOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATIOM FILED APR-11, 1912.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

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R. A. SORANTON.

CLUTCH MEQHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLfdA' oN FILED APR. 11. 1912.

1 974 65Q Patented 0013.7, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED APR.11, 1912,

Patented 001;. 7, 1913.

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2 awuwnto z fiafier/ Jew/7757K WWI/Lamas UNITED STATES PATENT onEI-cn.

ROBERT A. SCRANTON, 01' NEW 103K, N. Y., ASBIG'NOH,

THE IMPERIAL SEWING MAQH'INE. GOMPANT, A CORPORATION BY MESNEnssie'nmnm's, T

or DELAWARE;

GLUTCH MECHANISM' FOR SEWINGIAQHINES.-

aman of new: rams. Application filed. April 11, 1912. Seria No. 696,197.

Patented Oct. 7, 191a.

To-all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ronnn'r A. ScnaN'roN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at I New York in the county ofNew Yorkand State of ew York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clutoh Mechanism for Sewing'Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to automatic means to periodically actuateclutch mechanism which normally afi'ords an operative connectionvbetween driving and driven re tary elements and has particularreference to means of this character adapted for use 1n connection withpower sewing machines, whereby the continuous rotary movement of thedriving wheel may be employed for promeans acter,.

ducing intermittent rotary motion of the operating shaft which drivesthe needle bar.

It is well known that in sewing on buttons a power sewing machineisequipped with a button holding and shi-ftingtlevice, which automaticallyshifts the button to bring the holes thereof in proper position so thatvthe needle may pass through them and sew the button to the fabric. Insewing on the but tons in this manner it is necessary that the pingof-the machine is not at all dependent upon an attendant.

-A further object of the invention is to provide means of the abovementioned charwhich when operated, will quickly bring the moving partsof the sewing machine to a stop without jars or strains which woulddamage the mache. I

A further object of t is invention is to provide automatic clutch.actuating means,

which 1s simple iii-construction, cheap to manufacture, and positive inits oper' I A. further object. of this "Mentionisto provide novel andconveniently .o to reset the-automatic, msauarwhioh actuators theclutob'mwhanism.

numerals are em plied thereto.

' further object of this invention is to provide means of the abovementioned character, which will first apply braking means to the drivenrotary element, to retard and gradually decrease in rotary movement andsubsequently disconnect the same from the driving rotary element andstop it in 'ust the right position so that the needle w' be elevatedwhen it finallycomes to' rest.

1 Other obv'ects and advantagesoi the in vention wil be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

' In. the accompanying drawings iorrning a part of this specificationand in which like ployed to designate like parts throughout the same,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sewing machme, showing my improvedclutch actuating means ap- Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinalsectional view through the driving and driven wheels orelements of thesewing machine and my improved clutch actuating means. Fig. 3 is a planview of the clutchactuating means, parts being omitted. Fig. 4 is atransverse vertical sectional view taken on line's-4 of- Fig. 3 andlooking in the direction of the arrow.- Fig'. 5 is a side elevation ofthe same, viewed from the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and looking in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 6 is a vertieal transverse sectional viewtaken on line 6-6 of Fig. '3 and looking in the direction of the arrow.Fi 7 isa similar viewtak n on line 7- -7 of ig. 3 and looking in thedirection at the arrow. Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on line 8- ofFig. 3 1001;:- .ing inthe direction of the arrow. Fig. 9 1sv a face viewof the clamping. flange carried by the driving element or wheel, showingthe locking elements or rollers therein. Fig. 10 is an inner face viewof the drivenrotary element or wheel. Fi 11 is a sim lar view ofa-shifting element or plate. Flg. 12 1s an endview of the. com ineddriving and driven rotary elements or wheels the shifting. plate beingremoved and the P1115 car-v vied thereby shown' in sootiom- Ienlargedside elevation of upper I end portion of-the-means for reseatmgt e'clutch aotunting'means, and 14 is-an ed view of the same,- taken atrig tangles to. lg 13.

In the drawings whuerem for: the. purpose oi. illustraf haveshown ;a,preferred n c I a I I myjnventlon the-numeral- 1 head 7 and having anouter annular flange looking elements or rollers 18, comprisesdesignates the base of a sewing machine,

upon which is rigidly mounted a curved.

overhanging bracket-arm 2, provided at its forward end with ahead orshell 3 conta1n- 5 ing the usual mechanism for reciprocating I'lSlIl ri'idl connected inner and outer P a y parts 7 and 8. The inner part 7 isin the form of a cylindrical head and is clamped or otherwise mountedupon the operating shaft wardly extending sleeve 9. o The outer part 8of the rotary driven element or wheel is in the form of a shelline'losing the inner 10, which forms therewith an annular opening 11.

The numeral 12 designates a driving ele-.

ment or wheel, having a hub-portion 13, which is rotatably mounted uponthe sleeve or extension 9, and has a groove 12 formed thereon forreceiving a driving belt 13. Formed integral with the hub portion 13 isan annular clamping or locking flange 15, which fits within the annularopening 11 and slidably engages the annular flange 10. The head 7 isprovided in its periphery with openings 16, which have Wedge-shapedportions formed by shoulders 17. Within these wedge-shaped portions ofthe openings 16 are disposed locking elements or rollers 18, whichengage the inner walls of the open ings l6 and the inner wall of theclamping annular flange 15. These locking elements or' rollers are urgedinto engagement with the shoulders 17 by plungers 19, fitting Withinopenings 20 and engaged by compressible coil springs 21 disposedtherein. It is thus seen that when the drivin engagement with theshoulders 17 into the end portions of the openings 16,

enlarged-l wheel 12 will continue to turn when the vwithout turning thedriven element or Wheel.

-The means for thus moving or shifting the prefprably circular shiftingplate 22, carryinggpins 23 which extend Within the contractedendportions of the openings 16. This shiftingplate carries a central hub or60, ri ng ;2 3 whichjs rotatably mounted upon a sleeve24 formedintegralwith the head 7 It is thus seen that the rotating driving Wheel f=12anddriven wheel. or element will be disconnected by holding the" shiftingplate 22 against rotation, it being underi lug or extension 28, 6 sothat it cannot turn thereon. Formed integral with this inner head 7 is aforelement. or wheel 12 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, itwill cause the driven Wheel or ele-,

stood that this shifting plate rotates with the driven element or Wheel.The shifting plate 22 is provided upon its periphery with a cut-outportion forming a shoulder 25.

The operating shaft 6 is provided in one end with a screw-threadedopening, for receiving the sorew-threaded;inner '-end= of a fclampnig,"screw'26, extending through "the sleeve 24'and rigidly holdinga plate27 in engagement-with the free end ofthe sleeve 24, such free-,end ofthe sleeve 24 extending beyond the sleeve 23, whereby the sleeve 23' andits shifting plate 22 are free to turn upon the sleeve 24. The plate 27'carries a as shown. Automatic means are provided for holding theshifting plate 22 against rotation, when it is desired-that the rotarydriving and driven elements or wheels be disconnected. Such meanscomprise a lower securing frame 29, which is disposed :near and abovethe base land rigidly connected with --the lower endof the bracket arm2. This'securing frame is approximatelyU-shaped and has its end portionsforked and rigidly connected with a main" upstanding supporting plate30. The supporting plate 30 has its upper end 31 cut in a curve to tothe curvatureof the annular flange l0,the" end 31 being placed below andsuitably spacedfrom flange 10, as shown .Disposed correspond upon theouter surface of the supporting plate 30 and rigidly connected with theupper end thereof is an approximately U- shaped frameor housing 32. Theframe or housing 32 is provided uponits upper .end with an upwardlyextending car 33, provided with a bearing 34, rotatably holding a shaft85. This shaft 35 has a star or index wheel' 36 rigidly ecnnectedtherewith upon the (interface of the housing 32 and 'asmall pinion371rigidly connected with its inner end and disposed within' th e housin32. It"

is thus seen thatthe star or index-w 1eeland"*f the small pinion turntogether. The frame or housing 32-':i-s' provided at its low'erLndf witha depending earld, tion with an inwa 39, upon which'is rotatably mounteda large trip-pinion 40, provided with a hub or spacing sleeve 41. Thislarge with and is driven-by the small pinion 3,7,3 as shown. The largewith a suitablenumber of spaced trips or extensions 42, which may be'inthe form of screws or the like; These t'rips-are adapted to en agewith amovableclatch, in the form aving rigid co'n'nec'; A rdly extendingstub-shaft pinion engages pinion 40 is provided of a bell-crank lever43, pivotally mounted f upon the supporting plate 30, as shown at eupper arm of thisbell-crank lever latch is engaged by a spring-45, whichis 'attached tothe outer facepf the supporting plate 30, as shown.,The'lfowefend of the bell-cranklever latch 43 'is bent at right anglesfor forming a 'horizontal extension i l with a curved shoe 54, carryingupon its 46, operating within an opening 47 formed upon opposite edgeswith guide pins 49 and '50, operating withinvertical slots 51. .Upon

horizontal portion 46 of the bell-crank lever 43. Upon its opposite edgethe brake plate one edge, the brake-plate is provided with'a shoulder52, which is engaged by the lower 48 is provided with a lug or ear '53.-The brake-plate 48 is provided at its upper end upper face a strip ofleatheror other fibrous material 55. This brake shoe is movable intoengagement with thefiange 10 of the driven element or wheeL, When thebrakeplate 48 is released it is quickly moved upwardly by a compressiblecoil spring if, a e

which surrounds a portion of av shaft 5 upper end of which extendsthrough an apertured ear 58- stamped from the material -'of-thebrake-plate 48, as shown. The spring 56 has its upper end in engagement'withthe, ear 58 and the lower end in engagement I y with an adjustable nut59 disposed upon the lower screw-threaded portion 60 of the rod .57,such lower screw-threaded portion extending though an apertured ear 61stamped from the supporting plate and extending through an opening 62formed in the brakeplate-48. The screw-threaded portion 60 of the shaft57 carries a stop nut 63, as

. shown.

iPivotally mounted upon the outer face of the securing plate 30 and nearthe upper end thereof, as shown at 64, is a movable.

preferably substantially V-shaped holding element 65, the upper arm ofwhich is adapted to move into engagement with the shoulder 25 of theshifting plate .22. The lower arm of the holding element 65 is engagedbythe head of the guide pin 49. A-

'laf-spring 66 engages the lower arm 'of the holding element 65. andquickly swings the same upwardly when the holding element is released.

Secured to the lower face of the base 1 near the end thereof is a fixedbracket or support 67, provided with an adjustable stop68 and having alower. forked end 69,

for receiving a bell-crank lever 70. These parts are pivotally connectedby a pin 71' or the like.' The bell-crank lever is provided with anextension or shoe 72adapted to engage the stop "68, A retractile coilspring 73 has one end connected-with the bell-crank lever 70 auditsopposite end c'onv nected with' a bracket or element 74 whichisifix'edly secured to the lower 'facepofthe 'hase"-1. ":Thebell-cranklever' .70 has its lower endllfilfdrked, as shown, for receiving" hisbrake-plate is provided near its ,upper and lower ends and one end of areach rod 76,,such parts being adjustably and pivotally connected by apin 77 or the like.

The numeral 78 designates a depending swinging lever or rod, which ispivotally connected at its upper end with the fixed element 74. Thislever 78- has a sleeve. 79 longitudinally adjustably mounted thereon'sition by a clamping bolt 80. This sleeve is provided with spaced ,ears81, between these partsbeing pivotally connectedfby a pin 82 or thelike.

Disposed nearand spaced from the outer face of the supporting plate 30is a stationary vertical guide bracket 83, fixedly 'secured to the upperface of the base 1. This guide bracket is provided through its upperportion with a longitudinally extending slot 84 for receiving a headedpin 85 carried by an upper angular end portion 86 of an upstanding rod87, oft-set intermediateits ends and extending through an opening 88 inthe base 1. The lower end of the rod 87 is pivotally adjustablyconnectedwith one arm of the bell-crank lever 70 by e. pin 88 or the end of theangular end portion 86, as shown at 89, is a depending finger 90,provided with a shoulder 91 adapted for engagement with the lug or.extension 53 of ,the brake plate 48, This depending finger has aninclined'or angular end portion 92, ,to be engaged by a guide pin 93,which is longitudinally adjustably mounted in a slot 94 formed in thefixed bracket 83. Clamping guide pin 93 in its adjusted position. It isthus seen that when the rod 87 is moved downwardly the finger 90 is alsomoved downwardly so that its shoulder will en gage the extension 53 andreturn the brakeplate 48 to its normal starting position subsequently towhich and upon further movement of the rod 87 in this do wnwarddirection the finger 91 is swung laterally so that its shoulder 91disengages the extension 53. Thislatera-l movement of the finvger'iscaused by the angular end portion 92 thereof traveling in engagementwith the guide pin 93, as is obvious; f

The operation of the device is as follows: The driving wheel or element12 is continuously rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow andthe clutch mechanism normally connects the driving element with thedriven element including the shell 8 so that they rotate together. Uponeach rotation of the driving wheel 12 the lug 28 engages the star orindexwheel 36 and advances it a step, which stepby step movementis-imparted to the pinions 37 and 40. The pinion 40 is rotated to bringone of the trips 42 and'held in adjustment at any desired polike.Pivotally connected with the upper whichextends one end of the reach rod76,

nuts 95 are employed to securely h old theintoengagement-withthe-latch3, so that it's iao engage the shiftingplate, a bolt attached to the brake-plate and extending through anopenlng in the supporting plate to engage the holding element forcontrolling its oporation, a spring to m0ve the brake-plate in onedirection, a spring to move the holding,

element in one direction, a latch to normally hold the brake-plateagainst movement in one direction, and means automatically driven by onerotatable element and timed inits operation to move said latch justafter a certain portion of the shifting plate has passed the holdingelement.

6. In a device of the character described, driving and driven rotatableelements, clutch mechanism between the same, a supporting plate disposednear the rotatable elements, a movable brake-plate mounted upon one sideof the supporting plate, a movable latch mounted upon the opposite sideof the supporting plate and normally holding the brake-plate againstmovement, a spring to move said brake-plate in one direction whenreleased, a shifting plate for 0 crating the clutch mechanism, a holdinge ement mounted upon the supporting plate and adapted to hold theshifting plate against movement and controlled in its oper' ation b saidbrake-plate, a bracket mounted upon t e supporting plate, a plurality.of gears supported by the bracket, one of which is rovidedwith means tooperate the movab e latch, and a star-wheel connected with one of theplurality of gears and intermittently moved by one rotatable element.

7. In a device of the character described,

driving and driven rotatable elements, clutch mechanism between the samea supporting plate disposed near the rotata le elements, a movablebrake-plate mounted upon one side of the supporting plate, a shiftingplate bodily rotatable with one of the rotatable elements and'carryingmeans to operate the clutch mechanism, a holding element movably'mounted upon the opposite side of the supporting plate and ada ted toengage the shifting plate, means w ereby said holding element is movablein one direction only when said brake-plateis moved in the samedirection, a spring to quickly move the brakelate in one direction, alatch to normally old the brake-plate against movement by the spring aplurality of gears one of which is provi ed with means to move thelatch, a star-wheel connected-with one of the ears, and means rotated byone rotatable e ement to intermittently drive the star-wheel. V

8. In a device of the character described, driving and'driven rotatableelements, clutch mechanism between the same, means to operate the clutchmechanism to disconnect the rotatable elements, a supporting platedisposed near the rotatable elements, a reciprocatory brake-plate andprovided with an opening formed therethrough mounted upon the supportinplate, a tongue rigidly connected with t 'e supporting plate andextending laterall through the openin formed in the brake-plate, anaperture tongue rigidly connected with said brakeplate, a rod adjustablyconnected with the tongue of the supporting plate and passing throughthe apertured tongue of the brakeplate, and a coil spring surroundingthe rod and engaging the tongue of the brakeplate.

9. The combination with a movable element, of a movable rod, a movablefinger connected with said rod, means to automatically move the fingerinto engagement with the movable element when said rod is in one,

position, and means to automatically move said finger out of engagementwith the movable element when said rod is moved in one direction.

10. The combination with a fixed upstanding bracket, of a movableelement d1sposed.

near the same, a reciprocatory rod provided with guide means whichengage the upstanding bracket, a depending finger prov1ded with means toengage the movable element and having an inclined lower portion, a

ROBERT A. SCRANTON.

Witnesses:

Rosita E. Krrcn, Ans'rm Donor.

